A two-minute capitulation from hosts Crystal Palace yielded an eventually inevitable and justified result despite a flawed performance from the champions.
Otamendi didn’t even make it on to the team bus while John Stones lacked the match fitness required to play, whilst the continued absence of defensive rock Aymeric Laporté was in full force at Selhurst Park.
With Pep Guardiola unwilling to blood inexperienced academy centre-back, Eric Garcia, experienced midfielders, Fernandinho and Rodrigo Hernandez were entrusted at the heart of the Manchester City defence.
With two extra midfielders on the pitch City controlled possession, playing it out of Palace’s reach for the majority of the match, but their defensive frailties were transparent.
The visitors squandered multiple opportunities ranging from routine to extraordinary and even greed, from Gabriel Jesus – unlike his namesake – halted City from extending their lead in the second half.
Proactive substitutions from Roy Hodgson brought upon a new attacking outlay from Palace who regained their flow in the last half-hour, but it was too little too late.
City goalkeeper, Ederson, ensured he reminded everyone that it’s not just his feet that possess uniquely sublime footballing skills, making two miraculous saves to deny the hosts an unprecedented revival late in the fixture.
This is not to discount Wayne Hennessey’s performance at the opposite end, who made several fine saves, governing a back-line lacking this season’s starter, Martin Kelly.
Vincente Guaita’s absence was not as sorely missed as some would have feared upon the announcement of the line-ups.
Simply, it was a case of an elite team besting a less-funded squad.
Who are Crystal Palace?
After excelling last season with an obvious intricacy, Roy Hodgson implemented a ‘defend with your life, surprise on the counter’ philosophy which helped the side plateau to 12th place.
In an attempt to improve his side’s league standing, Hodgson – with the help of his staff – has opted to effectuate an increasingly possession-based style of play and this was clear in the first half against City when trying to play out from the back.
However, with minimal possession and the obvious contrast in quality, the method didn’t eventuate to anything significant and it was abandoned for the tried and true counter-attacking flare of last season, in the second half. This change, catalysed by the introduction of Andros Townsend just before the hour mark, led to Palace’s most enticing passages of later for the game.
Now into the club’s seventh consecutive season in the Premier League, the club – and the fans – believe it’s time for them to being their assault on a higher level of league success. This is most likely why we have seen this different style of play with Palace this season, which has been prevalent in other matches this season.
An obvious identity and structured swagger followed Palace wherever they went last season. They were never obliterated nor dominated by any Premier League side, never losing by more than two goals – something only City, Liverpool and Tottenham could lay acclaim to.
Since Hodgson’s appointment just over two years ago, when in defence Palace have habituated themselves to a distinct formation.
They play with a narrow back four and a very linear midfield five, where the wide midfielders will fall back to oppose any over-lapping fullbacks.
Very rarely did the side seem overwhelmed or stretched at any point of a defensive progression; each player knew their role and there was always a ‘safety’ should they be breached.
In the first 45 minutes of the game agaisnt City, Palace looked lost. Changes in philosophy take time and we won’t see them comfortable with more of the ball immediately, but with the talent at their disposal, it is possible.
Guardiola’s Manchester City didn’t really solidify their brand until the second season that the record-breaking manager was in charge.
However, on the weekend, City’s erratic finishing was the only roadblock between a much more negative goal difference following a host of guilt-edged opportunities missed. If Palace play like they did in the second half, then they could well trouble four of the five teams above them in their next four fixtures. If the first-half display is a trend of the next month, then the Eagles could well be on their way to another season of mid-table mediocrity.
David Silva – admire him, while you can
Such is the intelligence quotient of Manchester City, that a player with the reconnaissance of David Silva often goes unapplauded. Maybe in a less dominant and efficient attacking side, Silva’s aptitude to decide a game within seconds would be more appreciated.
The Spaniard’s creative ability has always been deservedly lauded, despite being still significantly undervalued. Against Palace, however, it was his footballing nous and finishing that came to the fore. Showing the world, while just shy of his 34th birthday, why he is still consistently starting in midfield for one of Europe’s behemoths.
City’s second goal was a trademark of the philosophy Guardiola has instilled into his squad. Excellent positioning – in defence and attack – clinical passing and having the confidence in your, and your teammates’ ability, to execute the unthinkable.
An errant Jordan Ayew pass in Palace’s final third preceded a chorus of perfectly accurate City touches and culminated with a first time David Silva volley, who made a task that required such precision look so simple. Not to mention Sterling’s assist, a lob that made it up and over the Palace defence and down again in such a short distance that it shouldn’t have been physically possible.
However, despite this wonderfully magnificent advertisement for football, it was City’s first goal that was invisibly stamped by David Silva’s incredible intelligence.
In control of possession, City looked for an opening in the box and Palace’s defence opened up, becoming unorganised and leaving an unforgivable 3-on-3 situation deep inside their own box.
Sterling was out left guarded by Joel Ward, Jesus sacrificed 16 centimetres to James Tomkins in the middle of the box and David Silva skirted the edge of the area, shadowed by Cheikou Kouyaté.
Noticing Jesus’ disadvantage, David Silva made an unselfish jog to the front side of Tomkins, forcing the Englishman to tail him instead of guarding Jesus, leaving the Brazillian isolated for a moment. Bernardo Silva would have no simpler cross, as he curled the ball in from the right-hand side, onto Jesus’ vacant head who nudged the ball home.
David Silva’s name won’t be on the scoresheet, but his role in this goal is undoubted.
After confirming that this season will be his last with the club, after a decade, David Silva’s magic will only be on British screens for so much longer. Such a unique individual must be admired, while we still can.
Fernandinho, the part-time centre-back, and his new friend
Before this game, Fernandinho, a midfielder, had played the most minutes in defence of any fit Manchester City player this season.
Benjamin Mendy had only started one previous fixture – the 8-0 drubbing of Watford – before being substituted at half-time to gift new boy Angeliño some defensive minutes. João Cancelo made a similar cameo against Watford before his first 90-minute appearance a week prior to this game.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo, an esteemed centre-midfielder and potentially a Manchester City staple for years to come, had never played a game as a defender prior to this one. In fact, in his post-game interview, Guardiola made sure to note that “Rodri did not train one day in that position”. Outlining just how makeshift this back four was.
Relief is in sight for the Citizens, with the full return of John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker all hypothesised to be within the next or so following the resolution of minor complaints for the latter duo.
This comes as good news for Guardiola as City looked quite frail at the back. Although the unplanned experiment of ‘midfielders playing as defenders’ did add a new dimension to their play, against more pressing teams, City might well have been exploited following obvious mistakes throughout the match.
Joel Ward, the “epitome” of Crystal Palace
A wonderful Joel Ward mural was displayed before kick-off on Sunday at the Holmesdale end of the ground, the home end. The right-back made his 200th appearance for the club just before the international break away from home. Upon his next home appearance – this one against City – the fans made sure to honour their long-time, loyal servant. No player (175) has made more Premier League appearances for Palace than Ward.
He was signed for a measly £400,000 in 2012 and was promoted with the club after the 2013 Championship play-off, in which he started.
King of the diving header, Ward has thwarted away many attacks with such a manoeuvre while scoring some of his own.
In his time at the club, the veteran has averaged more than two tackles a game and been dribbled past less than once per game as well as averaging just under four clearances each match. These numbers, in companionship with his loyalty to the club, has buoyed Ward’s name as a cult figure at Selhurst Park.
Characterised by ever-resilient and always trying performances, following his performance against West Ham, Steve Parish earmarked Ward saying “Joel Ward to me epitomises everything we have got in the football club… People talk about giving 100 per cent, and has anyone ever seen Joel Ward give anything other than everything? To me, he is absolutely everything about Crystal Palace.”
There can’t be many better compliments than being hailed as the epitome of your long-time club.
The Premier League table’s a funny old thing
16 points was Manchester City’s tally from their opening eight games this season, just two more than surprise 6th place Crystal Palace but not many unbiased onlookers could say the two teams have rival qualities.
City’s quality is unquestioned, but their ways have faltered at times this season. Apart from being unable to finish their well-cooked dinner against Palace on the weekend, City looked back to their controlling best. With the defenders on the way back (most of them) and their front men all in goalscoring form, City will hope the worst is behind them.
If the returning of injured players wasn’t an omen enough for City, 16 points was also the same tally that City found themselves on before they historically leapfrogged Liverpool on the home stretch of the 2013/14 Premier League season. Could history repeat itself?
Up Next
Palace travel to the Emirates, a ground at which they enjoyed victory at during their stellar end to last season. While City host an in-form Aston Villa, but will hope to play the role of the villain as they continue their chase for Liverpool as the head of the peloton.
